Tuesday, February 14 2006 15:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Hindu community leaders in Europe are up in arms against display of goddess Durga's poster promoting a whisky brand and use of Lord Ram's image on a tissue paper.

It is time for Hindus around the world and the Indian Government to stand up and be counted, Bimal Krishna Das, General Secretary of the National Council of Hindu Temples, representing 90 per cent of the UK's 140 Hindu temples and by extension at least 75 per cent of Britain's 6 lakh Hindus, said.

He said a disco bar in Greece has invited the wrath of Hindus for displaying a poster of goddess Durga promoting a whisky brand. Large posters inside and outside the Balon Oriental Disco Bar in Athens depict the Goddess carrying bottles of Southern Comfort Whisky.

"The Indian community in Athens has been trying for the last three months to have the posters removed but in vain," said Paramjit Singh, originally from Jalandhar, nowsettled in Greece. Letters have been sent to the American manufacturer of the Whisky to withdraw the poster, he said.

Also, despite protests, the tissues bearing Lord Ram's image still remain in circulation for over a year because their German manufacturer has refused to cease production, Das said.